Ala Moana Bowls Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let's have a look at what we've got for the next couple of weeks.

Overall, it's a bit of a mixed bag, to be honest. We’re starting off with some proper energy, but the winds are a nightmare. Then things drop right off into small, clean conditions for a good stretch, before a big pulse of swell rolls in towards the very end of the month. That last bit looks promising, but it's a long way off.

We kick things off this Sunday morning with some solid, powerful swell. The combined energy is really pumping at a strong 2741, with the swell size sitting at 10 ft from the ENE. The issue is that the wind is howling out of the ESE at 25 mph, making it a cross-onshore mess. It's not one for the paddle board; you'd be looking at kite gear out at Ala Moana Bowls. The water temp is about average for the time of year at 81°.

Sunday afternoon is much the same story – still a 8 ft ENE swell with 1849 of energy, but it’s cross-onshore and choppy. Not great.

Monday and Tuesday look like a different world. The swell drops right off, but we get clean conditions with a cross-off wind. We're looking at tiny 3 ft SSW groundswell on Monday, with a long period of 14 seconds and mellow energy levels around 666. It's clean, but it’s marginal. Tuesday is even smaller, with just 2 ft of S swell and a long 13-second period, but the wind is clean. It's going to be a real small-wave session for the patient.

From Wednesday the 20th through to the weekend, it’s about as clean as it gets. The wind goes light or gentle, and we're on a tiny but very long-period SSW groundswell (16-18 seconds). The energy is low, between 254 and 490. The waves will be clean as a whistle, but you’ll be working for every little dribble. It’s a good time for a longboard or a foiler, but not exactly pumping.

Now, if you're looking for the standout window, you have to look ahead to the end of the month. From the 27th of August onwards, the charts are showing a proper powerful E-ENE swell filling in. By Thursday the 27th, we're looking at a 10 ft ENE swell with a moderate 10-second period and massive combined energy of 1925 to 2015. The wind is cross-off, so the waves should be clean! This is a lot of water, though – definitely expert territory at 10 ft. It's a long-range call, so don't book your flights just yet, but it has serious potential.

Before that, there's a smaller spike on the 25th and 26th with 6 ft to 8 ft ENE swells, all with clean cross-off winds. That's a bit more manageable for the keen intermediate, but again, the energy is climbing into a strong range (800-932).

For the very last few days of August and into the 31st, it looks like we're dropping back into that small, clean SSW groundswell again. It’s good for a cruise, but nothing to get excited about.

So, the best bet on offer? It's a split call. For the real deal, big-wave stuff, you've got to pencil in Thursday the 27th of August at Ala Moana Bowls. The 10 ft ENE swell with clean cross-off winds is the standout, but it's for experts only. For a guaranteed clean, small-wave session, you can't beat the period from Thursday the 20th through to Saturday the 22nd. The waves will be tiny, but the water will be like glass.

Rusty.

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